The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-01

M. III. Houghton, of Storm Lake. The
general topic of remark was the rest
promised by Jesus to his faithful fol-
lowers and believers. "Take my yoke
upon you and learn of me-" After the in
troductory comments of the leader, brief
addresses followed, several of the lay
men and the sisters speaking instruct
lively. Brs. Crum, Gorton, Demarest
and others, also spoke. The hour from
8 to 10 was happily spent.
RECEPTION OF Elk NONRESIDENT
HAMLIN.
Before the congregation had left the
church on Thursday evening, the atten-
ton of the Convention was called to the
fact that Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, of
Maine, the only living ex-Vice-pres-
ident of the United States, was in the
city, the guest of Hon. N. G. Deering !;
and resolution was adopted, moved
by the Editor of THE UNIvERsALIsT,
that the distinguished statesman be in
vited to visit the Convention on Friday
morning andreceive its greetings. Rev.
DR.. Cantwell and the President of the
Convention, were made committee to
wait upon the ex-Vice-president and
extend the invitation. Mr.. Hamlin re-
ceived the Committee, accompanied by
Rev. A. A. Thayer, the Usage PASTOR
very courteously, and consented to visit
the Convention. with the proviso, how
ever, that he should not be expected to
make speech, unless the spirit moved
him, "for" said the venerable states
man, II have good deal of the Quaker
| in me, and do not like to make merely
formal address," 1t was stated by the
Committee that the address was Sec
ondary consideration altogether; that it
might be entirely waived, and the visit
made in an informal manner. With
this understanding the visit was ar
ranged.
AT 10 o'clock on Friday morning
the ex-Vice-president appeared, accom-
panied by Hon. Mr.. Deering. He was
met at the door by the Committee, and
escorted to the platform, where he was
presented by DR.. Cantwell to the Pres
ident, who in turn, in few well-chosen
words, called the members of the Con-
vention to arise, and presented the dis
tinguished guest.
The Address of the Ex-vice President.
Responding to the greetings of the con-
vention, Mr.. Hamlin said: "Mr. Presi-
dent, as L advised you last evening did
not come here to make speech. I thank
you truly for this kind expression of your
respect. At my age you will excuse me
with few brief words. We are living
in an age of progress. There are periods
OF time in the history of the world;
there have been periods of time that
have been distinctly marked as epochs
in it's history. We are living now
in an epoch in this age of the world;
we have lived in the most remarkable
epoch Of all the worlds history. have
lived myself, to see these extraordinary
developments of the resources OF our
country. have seen all mighty mechan-
ical energies chained and brought into
use, with perhaps the exception of steam.
l can almost reach that. I have seen it
oh or ifc inf
until to-day it propels or furnishes the
motive power of all your mechanical in
dustries. 1t is one of the great develop
ments of the century. Its iron bands bind
our nation from shore to shore. We had
begun to think that railroads had ami
hilated space, but in comes electricity
and girdles the world within the space
of six seconds. Next comes crowding
upon us what is, if possible, more re-
msrkable, the telephone, with which we
speak with our friends, hundreds and
hundreds of miles away. I heard lady
once say, that gentlemen, young gentle
men, must be careful of what they say,
as the telephone gave them the scope of
hundreds of miles away. We live in
great age, and shall 1 omit the browning
event of that age? We were told that our
constitution was a reproach to the age
in which we lived, but we have lived to
see the last vestige of human slavery
swept away.
Thrice blessed and no longer thrice
cursed for the system of human slavery,
the influence of our country on the ma
lions of the earth is now paramount. We
have made great progress in science
and art, and, in fact, everything that ele-
Yates mankind. There has, indeed, been
mighty progress in every direction. May
we not say that the advance has been as
rapid and remarkable with regard to the
progress of theological opinion? think
30. think that it has kept side by side
with all the advancement of the age.
While not distinctively of You, 1 can say
that deeply sympathize with you who
constitute this Convention; that well
come every advance in the direction of
religious freedom, and especially rejoice
in the wiping away of the musty theolog-
ical traditions of the past. I am with
you, members of the Convention, side by
side, and shoulder by shoulder. be.
lieve in religion OF works, and not of
mere profession. believe in clothing the
naked and in feeding the hungry. Do
unto others as Won would that others